Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena Leads Massive Cleanup of INA Drain
New Delhi, September 4: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena visited the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) drain at INA and instructed officials to start immediate desilting and cleaning operations. The cleanup began on September 3.
According to the LG Office, the drain had not been cleaned for several years and was filled with thousands of tonnes of garbage and construction debris. Saxena’s visit was the first by a high-ranking official in the last decade.
The desilting operation started with heavy machinery at three different spots on September 3. MCD officials estimated that the drain contained over 50,000 tonnes of waste. On the first day alone, over a thousand tonnes of debris were removed, and the cleanup will continue until the drain is fully cleaned.
This 6.5-kilometre-long drain, which feeds into the Kushak Drain and eventually the Yamuna River, is heavily clogged with garbage, sewage, and rainwater. The clogged drain causes waterlogging and overflow in areas like INA Market, Sewa Nagar, Sadiq Nagar, Ansari Nagar, South Ex I, and AIIMS crossing on Ring Road.
Following Saxena’s inspection, heavy machinery was deployed, and portions of the side walls of the INA drain were broken to access it. Saxena instructed officials to create a permanent ramp for future cleaning operations.
Saxena was informed that informal settlements (Jhuggis) near the drain were contributing to its pollution by dumping garbage and sewage. He instructed MCD officials to construct a fence around the drain to prevent further dumping.
The desilting of the Kushak Drain, into which the INA drain feeds, began on August 4 after a previous visit by the LG. This project marks the fifth drain that Saxena has inspected and instructed for cleaning, aiming to mitigate waterlogging and sewer overflow in neighbouring areas.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi LG -: Delhi LG stands for Delhi Lieutenant Governor. He is a high-ranking official who helps manage the city of Delhi.
Vinai Kumar Saxena -: Vinai Kumar Saxena is the name of the current Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. He is responsible for overseeing various administrative tasks in the city.
MCD -: MCD stands for Municipal Corporation of Delhi. It is an organization that takes care of civic services like cleaning drains, collecting garbage, and maintaining roads in Delhi.
INA drain -: The INA drain is a large drainage system in Delhi. It helps carry rainwater and waste water away from the city to prevent flooding.
Heavy machinery -: Heavy machinery refers to big machines like bulldozers and excavators. These machines are used to move large amounts of waste and debris quickly.
Debris -: Debris means pieces of waste or rubbish. In this context, it refers to the garbage and waste materials that were clogging the drain.
Informal settlements -: Informal settlements are areas where people live without proper planning or official permission. These areas often lack basic services like clean water and proper waste disposal.
Waterlogging -: Waterlogging happens when water stays on the ground for a long time because it can’t drain away. This can cause problems like flooding and damage to buildings.
Sewer overflow -: Sewer overflow occurs when the sewer system gets too full and spills out. This can cause dirty water to flood streets and homes, creating health hazards.
